Method of Generating Data for Estimating Resource Requirements for a Circuit Design

1. A method of generating data for estimating resource requirements for a circuit design using a computer to perform a process, the process comprising: identifying a plurality of intermediate circuit modules of netlists for circuit designs; establishing a plurality of parameter sets for each intermediate circuit module, wherein each parameter set of the plurality of parameter sets comprises a parameter identifying an integrated circuit device; characterizing each intermediate circuit module of the plurality of intermediate circuit modules according to an associated plurality of parameter sets; generating, by the computer and for each intermediate circuit module, data comprising an estimate of resources for each parameter set of the associated plurality of parameter sets; generating functions representing the data to enable estimating the resource requirements for the circuit design; identifying, for an intermediate circuit module, a parameter which is selected as a switch; generating a plurality of equations characterizing the data for the intermediate circuit module, wherein the number of equations is based upon the number of values for the parameter selected as a switch; and generating an estimate of resource requirements for the circuit design implemented in the integrated circuit device identified by the parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a device for each intermediate circuit module and associated parameter set.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing data for all intermediate circuit modules and associated parameter sets in a database.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a plurality of intermediate circuit modules comprises identifying intermediate circuit modules from a group consisting of arithmetic operators, multiplexers, shifters, comparators, memories, registers, unary logic operators, and bitwise logic operators.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating an estimate of performance characteristics for each intermediate circuit module and parameter set of an associated plurality of parameter sets.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating additional estimates of resources by interpolating data generated based upon the plurality of intermediate circuit modules and associated plurality of parameter sets.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating functions characterizing the estimates of resources.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating an estimate of performance characteristics for each intermediate circuit module and parameter set of an associated plurality of parameter sets.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein generating functions representing the data comprises generating, for each intermediate circuit module, a function characterizing all data associated with the intermediate circuit module.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether a function characterizing all data associated with an intermediate circuit module or the plurality of functions provides a more accurate estimate of the resource requirements for the intermediate circuit module.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying, for an intermediate circuit module, a plurality of parameter which is selected as switches, wherein a plurality of equations generated for characterizing the intermediate circuit module is less than a predetermined number of allowable equations to characterize the intermediate circuit module.

12. A method of generating data for estimating resource requirements for a circuit design using a computer to perform a process, the process comprising: identifying a plurality of intermediate circuit modules of netlists for circuit designs; establishing a plurality of parameter sets for each intermediate circuit module, wherein each parameter set of the plurality of parameter sets comprises a parameter identifying an integrated circuit device; characterizing each intermediate circuit module of the plurality of intermediate circuit modules according to an associated plurality of parameter sets; generating, by the computer for each intermediate circuit module, an estimate of resources for each parameter set of the associated plurality of parameter sets; generating, for each intermediate circuit module, an estimate for performance characteristics for each parameter set of the associated plurality of parameter sets; identifying an input parameter which is selected as a switch; and generating an estimate of resource requirements for a circuit design implementation in the integrated circuit device identified by the parameter; wherein generating an estimate of resources for each parameter set comprises generating a plurality of functions characterizing the data, wherein each function is associated with a given value of an input parameter identified as a switch.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising storing the estimates of resources and the estimates of performance characteristics in a table.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising generating functions associated with the estimates of resources.